08-26-2008, 02:27 AM
Yes, that's pretty broad. However I can give you a quick run-through of the common ones, if you have any more specific issues just ask. This is not an exhaustive list nor will I go into too much depth about usage but I hope it helps you to understand each of them. I'll use very simple examples in Romaji.
Generally particles come after the word they "mark".
は/wa: marks the subject; emphasizes the subject; translates to "as for (subject)"; is spelled as "ha"
Example: watashi wa hito desu.
I (as for me, I) am a person.
が/ga: marks the second subject, or in some instances (by English translation, although in Japanese it is still the subject) a direct object, like with "suki" or "to like".
Example: watashi wa hito ga suki desu.
I like people. (Literally: As for me, people are liked.)
を/o: marks the direct object of a verb; is spelled as "wo"
Example: watashi wa hon o yomimasu.
I read a book.
と/to: means "and" and goes between two words (not after both); can also be used as "with"
Example: watashi wa mizu to koohii o nomimasu.
I drink water and coffee.
に/ni: adverbial; marks an indirect object; translates as "in, at, to, toward, with" etc.
Example: kare wa tokyo ni imasu.
He is in tokyo.
で/de: adverbial; marks an indirect object; translates as "from, with, by way of, in the manner of, out of" etc.
Example: watashi wa nihongo de hanashimasu.
I speak in (in the manner of) Japanese.
へ/e: adverbial; marks an indirect object; translates as "to, toward"; is spelled as "he"
Example: kanojo wa rondon e ikimasu.
She goes to London.
か/ka: appears at the end of a question; "verbal question mark"; can also mean "or" when two questions are asked serially.
Example: anata wa inu ga suki desu ka, neko ga suki desu ka.
Do you like dogs, or do you like cats?
も/mo: marks a subject, direct object, or indirect object; in its most common use means "also" or "too"; when after two or more things it means "both".
Example: watashi wa inu mo neko mo suki desu.
I like both cats and dogs.
I hope this helps, rather than further confusing you. The rules for usage are a bit more complicated, but again, buy a book and it will explain all that to you.
Let me know if you have more questions.
If anyone has any corrections or clarifications to make please let me know.
The greatest lesson of the Japanese: humility.
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